PTI to launch nationwide protests from August 5 for Imran Khan's release
Synopsis
PTI has set 5 August — the third anniversary of Imran Khan's imprisonment — as the launch date for a nationwide protest movement including a long march. The timing is deliberate: it coincides with a pending Supreme Court petition seeking suspension of his and Bushra Bibi's convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir corruption case, turning a legal battle into a political flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
PTI 's parliamentary committee has decided to launch a nationwide protest movement from 5 August 2025 , marking three years of Imran Khan 's imprisonment.
The movement will include public meetings, demonstrations, and a long march , as confirmed by PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja .
The meeting was chaired by PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa .
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have petitioned Pakistan's Supreme Court to suspend their sentences in the £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust case.
The petition cites health concerns including an eye condition and mental stress from solitary confinement, and alleges the IHC failed to conduct a preliminary evidence review before rejecting the suspension plea.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s parliamentary committee has resolved to launch a nationwide protest movement beginning 5 August 2025, demanding the release of party founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to local media reports. The date marks the completion of three years of Imran Khan's imprisonment, lending symbolic weight to the planned agitation.
Key Decisions from the PTI Meeting
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by PTI's interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, speaking to Pakistani daily Dawn, confirmed that lawmakers settled on 5 August as the launch date for a movement that will encompass public meetings, demonstrations, and a long march.
Raja added that the opinions of Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas would be sought to finalise protest plans and related activities. Addressing a press conference separately, Gohar Ali Khan said the meeting also took stock of the health of both Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and expressed concern over what he described as a denial of justice by the courts.
The Legal Battle: Supreme Court Petition
The protest announcement comes as Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are fighting their convictions before Pakistan's Supreme Court. In June, the couple filed a petition challenging the Islamabad High Court (IHC)'s ruling in the £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust corruption case, requesting suspension of their sentences pending appeal.
The IHC had in May rejected their earlier petitions seeking suspension of sentences, noting that their main appeals were already fixed for hearing, according to Pakistani daily The News International. The Supreme Court petition contends that the IHC failed to conduct even a preliminary review of evidence before rejecting the suspension plea — a step the petition argues is legally required.
Health Concerns Raised in Petition
The petition filed before the apex court raises serious concerns about the physical and mental condition of both detainees. It states that Imran Khan developed an eye condition during detention and is reportedly suffering mental stress due to solitary confinement. The petition also describes the manner of his arrest as unlawful and irresponsible, and argues that continued detention despite deteriorating health amounts to injustice.
The petition further highlights that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) repeatedly sought adjournments during the trial, allegedly prolonging the appeal process and delaying justice. It requests the Supreme Court to declare the IHC order null and void, suspend the convictions, and order the immediate release of both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.
Context and What Comes Next
This is not PTI's first attempt at mass mobilisation since Imran Khan's arrest. The party has previously organised protests that drew significant crowds but failed to secure his release. The 5 August date — marking a three-year milestone in custody — is a deliberate framing choice, designed to amplify public sympathy and political pressure simultaneously.
Whether Pakistan's security establishment and the ruling coalition allow the planned long march to proceed without disruption remains to be seen. The Supreme Court's response to the suspension petition could also shift the political calculus before the protests even begin.
Point of View
And the party is betting that street pressure can move a Supreme Court that the Islamabad High Court could not. But PTI has staged large mobilisations before without tangible results, and Pakistan's security establishment has repeatedly shown it can absorb protest cycles. The more consequential development may be the Supreme Court petition itself: if the apex court agrees to even hear the suspension plea substantively, it changes the legal terrain regardless of how many people march. The health angle — an eye condition, solitary confinement, alleged procedural abuse by NAB — is clearly designed to build a humanitarian narrative alongside the political one, and that dual-track strategy is worth watching.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is PTI launching protests on August 5?
PTI has chosen 5 August because it marks the completion of three years since Imran Khan's imprisonment. The party aims to use the symbolic anniversary to maximise public attention and political pressure for his release.
What activities are planned under PTI's nationwide movement?
According to PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, the movement will include public meetings, demonstrations, and a long march. Consultations with Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas are planned to finalise the protest schedule.
What is the Al-Qadir University Project Trust case?
It is a £190 million corruption case in which both Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were convicted. The Islamabad High Court rejected their petitions to suspend the sentences in May, and the couple subsequently approached Pakistan's Supreme Court challenging that decision.
What does the Supreme Court petition filed by Imran Khan seek?
The petition requests the Supreme Court to declare the IHC's order null and void, suspend the convictions, and order the immediate release of both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. It also raises health concerns, including an eye condition and mental stress from solitary confinement.
Has PTI held such protests before?
Yes. PTI has organised multiple protest campaigns and marches since Imran Khan's arrest, though none have succeeded in securing his release. The 5 August movement is the party's latest attempt to combine street mobilisation with ongoing legal challenges.
